47 NAT

Looking to upgrade my B&W security cameras and wondered what colour cameras are good for night times that aren't going for meg bucks?

I dont wont to go out & buy one then find out its cr4p for night time use. Prefer not to go for the large external cameras where people can see them ....Any recomendations?

Jamo

iTrader: (23)

generally the colour ones are not much cop at night unless you pay a lot for them! there are some that auto switch at night to night vision, but again very expensive and generally the quality isnt very good.

I have black and white cameras that switch to night vision in the dark, they were not as cheap as they could have been but the quality is excellent! If I were you and you are looking to upgrade spend a few more quid and get a decent black and white set up.

hth?

Jamo

PG

Jamo is worth speaking to on this one.

PG

see ! Told you

Jamo

iTrader: (23)

GC8

Id suggest that you go for cameras with seperately mounted lenses; this more than anything else willl affect the quality of the images that you receive.

Jamo

iTrader: (23)

do you have any examples of them simon?

or do you meen the ones with the two sets of IR fields to either side?

GC8

'CS Mount' lenses have replaced 'C Mount' lenses; the current Maplin catalogue has a selection on page 550-. http://www.maplin.co.uk/Search.aspx?...4m11&source=15

Jamo

iTrader: (23)

this is the biggest I can get at the minute.



its a 420 TVL in a good solid outdoor casing its IP55 rated as well

its a plug and play unit you will just need a dvr card which I can get you cheap as well.

the IR field is big enough to light a medium sized garden, or drive. and it is auto switch.

these retail at £149, and the colour ones are £189.

I can get these through a friend of mine that works in the trade for a substantial discount.

47 NAT

Thanks guys

I wasnt looking to get the B&Q jobbies as not sure what the quailty will be like .... unless a few people say different!

Jamo, you mean something like this? http://www.iviewcameras.co.uk/DayandNightCCTV.htm

I've got a couple of flood lights at the front so it lights up well ..its just annoying sometimes as B&W seems so backwards in terms of modern technology.

I've got 3 at the moment which are the same size as a ping pong ball with sound ..there ok but I thought it was maybe time to upgrade

Jamo

iTrader: (23)

wouldnt these ones need a remote unit to go with them to control the zoom etc?

Jamo

iTrader: (23)

there the exact ones I have actually on my house, but in b and w.

I can get the colour version of those a bit cheaper than that

Jamo

iTrader: (23)

I am fairly sure they are illegal!

by law your not meant to have anything that can record someone without their knowledge (I think thats right, simon will know I think?)

but the main thing on that is, the informtion held within that recording wouldnt be admissable in court, mine are as they are time stamped and dont record sound.

GC8

Its controlled by the camera. With a camera like this you have a good chance of being able to identify the person that you film, rather than just seeing them. Most cheap 'CCTV' images are so poor that you have little chance of identifying whoever you film, unless its Mr Blobby. With a proper camera and a zoom lens you should be able to make their faces out. Cheaper cameras are good to use for 'scene' views and miniture cameras can be useful when theyre hidden, but nothing beats a good CS Mount for image quality.

47 NAT

I wasn't aware of that ....

There basically for home use only and to keep an eye on welcomed and unwelcomed visitors entering the garden..been lazy, its easier to flick the channel instead of then getting up. Told you it was lazy

GC8

If it applies to you, a simple warning sign that states:

CCTV recording in progress. Images are being monitored for the purposes of crime prevention and public safety.

Should ensure that you comply with the 1998 DPA, but I dont think that it applies to private households.


Simon

Jamo

iTrader: (23)

sorry you misunderstood what I meant, the fact you can record sound on them is illegal not the fact they can record people moving about on your property. I will check it simon is right about the signs you are meant to put up.

Recaro

If you want to use colour cameras then you need to install an infra red light sourse otherwise the picture will be rubbish

With low level light your best option is what you already have, black and white.

GC8

On the whole, colour cameras arent sensitive to infa red light; expensive ones switch to black and white below a certain light level.

Recaro

My work use the cameras that switch to black and white. The picture is very good when theres no light.

Might be a little expensive. We buy in major bulk so i dont know how much they would cost for joe public. Cameras are Bosch 485

47 NAT

Just out of curiousity, can wireless cameras be picked up by other people who say ... have the same kind of reciever like doorbells, some remote controls, etc

OllyK

That would depend on the quality of the wireless I would assume. If it is encrypted then it would be difficult. If it's transmitting openly then it could be intercepted, pretty much the same as wireless LAN

Jamo

iTrader: (23)

dont get wireless, its cheap tat!!!

j-k

Ive been in the CCTV business(installation/commissioning) for 18 years, and basically , you gets what you pay for!
Some of the cheaper end of the market stuff is fairly good (for picture quality), but looking at build quality, i wouldnt expect it to last.
Good quality colour/mono cameras can be had for £250 each,but you then need a lens, housing ,some form of switcher/recorder etc

Your best bet is to buy a low light mono camera with the highest TVL that you can find for your budget. Then install some good quality lights/sensors. Make sure if you are going to record the picture, that you get a recording device that will also do the same TVL as your cameras..

Hope this makes sense

jon

47 NAT

Thanks for the info but what does TVL mean?

Recaro

TVL - Means TV Lines.

Basically, the more lines, the better the picture.

47 NAT

Thanks Recaro